Rotating beacon system

ABSTRACT

A rotating beacon system and a method for synchronizing multiple rotating beacons. The rotating beacon system includes two or more rotating beacons and a feedback based control system adapted to sense an angular position of each of the two or more rotating beacons and generate two or more digitally controlled currents, each of the two or more digitally controlled currents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the two or more digitally controlled currents driving and controlling the angular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons to regulate a pre-selected phase relationship between multiple beacons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to beacons and more particularly rotating beaconsemployed on various vehicles.

2. Background of the Invention

The use of rotating lights for various applications including warningand alert devices is known in the art. Interconnecting such rotatinglights by mechanical drive means to synchronize a first rotating beaconwith a second rotating beacon has also been demonstrated. See GosswillerU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,735 and 4,240,062.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotating beaconsystem that includes two or more rotating beacons and a circuit thatcontrols an angular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons toachieve and maintain a pre-selected phase relationship between the twoor more rotating beacons. These and other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description of a preferredembodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a rotating beacon system and amethod for synchronizing multiple rotating beacons. The rotating beaconsystem includes two or more rotating beacons and a feedback basedcontrol system adapted to sense an angular position of each of the twoor more rotating beacons and generate two or more digitally controlledcurrents. Each of the two or more digitally controlled currents areconducted to an associated rotating beacon, the two or more digitallycontrolled currents driving and controlling the angular speed of each ofthe two or more rotating beacons to regulate a pre-selected phaserelationship between multiple beacons. In one embodiment, the feedbackbased control system includes an angular position sensing deviceassociated with each of the two or more rotating beacons and a beaconcontrol circuit. Each of the angular position sensing devices senses anangular position of the associated rotating beacon. Each of the angularposition sensing devices are adapted to output an angular positionsignal for the associated rotating beacon. The beacon control circuitincludes a digitally controlled current generator which produces two ormore digitally controlled currents. Each digitally controlled current isa function of an angular position signal for an associated rotatingbeacon and a synchronizing signal generated by the beacon controlcircuit. The two or more digitally controlled currents are used to driveand control the angular speed of each of the two or more rotatingbeacons to regulate a pre-selected phase relationship between multiplebeacons.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the beacon control circuitcompares the angular position signal to the synchronizing signal and,dependant upon a programmed or selected operation mode to determine aphase differential factor for each rotating beacon.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digitallycontrolled current generator includes a square wave signal generatorthat generates a square wave signal and a pulse width modulated currentgenerator that modulates a duty cycle of the square wave signal toproduce two or more pulse width modulated currents, one for each of therotating beacons. The square wave signal is modulated for each of thebeacons as a function of the phase differential factor for that beaconproviding a pulse width modulated current for each of the two or morerotating beacons. One of the two or more pulse width modulated currentsdrives and controls an angular speed of an associated one of the two ormore rotating beacons to regulate a pre-selected phase relationshipbetween the two or more rotating beacons.

In other embodiments of the invention, other feedback based controlsystems may be employed to produce two or more digitally controlledcurrents to drive and control an angular speed of each of the two ormore rotating beacons. Additionally, in other embodiments of theinvention, other digitally controlled current generating formats may beemployed for instance, adjustable linear voltage may be employed toproduce a digitally controlled current to control an angular speed ofeach of the two or more rotating beacons. The present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minordetails of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a rotating beacon systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a rotating beacon systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a rotating beacon systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a rotating beacon systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the steps of a method forcontrolling a pre-selected phase relationship between two or morerotating beacons according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, rotating beacon system 10 is shown includinga base member 12 to which four rotating beacons 20, 30, 40 and 50 aremounted. The four rotating beacons 20, 30, 40 and 50 are enclosed withincover 11. Mirrors 13, 14 and 15 provide additional reflection of lightemitted by the four rotating beacons 20, 30, 40 and 50. Rotating beaconsystem 10 also includes feedback based control system 60. Feedback basedcontrol system 60 includes beacon control circuit 65 and angularposition sensing devices 29, 39, 49 and 59. Beacon control circuit 65includes power supply 61 connected to a power source, (not shown), viaconductor 67. Controller 62, mode select circuit 66 and digitallycontrolled current generator 70 are also connected to power supply 61.Power supply 61 also provides regulated current for the four rotatingbeacons 20, 30, 40 and 50.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, digitally controlledcurrent generator 70 includes square wave signal generator 71, pulsewidth modulated current generator 72 and switching circuit 73. Modeselect circuit 66 includes power switch 67 that may switch power to thevarious rotating beacons 20, 30, 40 and 50. Mode select circuit 66 alsoincludes mode select switch 68 used to select one of a variety ofoperation modes, for example, inner rotating beacons 30 and 40synchronized with outer rotating beacons 20 and 50, inner rotatingbeacons 30 and 40 180° out of synchronization with outer rotatingbeacons 20 and 50, first and third rotating beacons 20 and 40 180° outof synchronization with second and fourth rotating beacons 30 and 40 ora staggered synchronization wherein each rotating beacon 20, 30, 40 and50 is out of synchronization with the next in line rotating beacon 20,30, 40 and 50 by 90°. Additionally, mode select circuit 62 allows forpre-selecting a flash mode, for instance, a single, alternating ordouble flash mode wherein the light emitting element of the variousrotating beacons 20, 30, 40 and 50 flash at 0° (single flash), 0° and180°, (alternate flashing), or at 0° and 90° (double flash). Memory 69provides data storage for programming and data associated with theoperation of rotating beacon system 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of rotating beacon system110 is shown including a pair of rotating beacons 120 and 130 mounted tobase member 112. Rotating beacons 120 and 130 are enclosed within cover111. Mirror 113 provides additional reflection of light emitted byrotating beacons 120 and 130. As seen in FIG. 3, rotating beacon 120includes base 122 and motor 123. Rotating reflector 125 is connected tomotor 123 at shaft 124. Light emitting element 126 provides illuminationreflected by rotating reflector 125. Rotating beacon 130 also includesbase 132 and motor 133. Rotating reflector 135 is connected to motor 133at shaft 134. Light emitting element 136 provides illumination reflectedby rotating reflector 135.

Referring to FIG. 3, while in the preferred embodiment of the invention,magnetic strip 127 serves as an angular position indicator whilemagnetic sensor 128 serves as an angular position sensor, other sensingdevices and technologies may be employed to accomplish this sensingfunction. For instance an optical sensor may serve as an angularposition sensor while an optical element, for instance a black dot mayserve as the angular position indicator. In the described embodiment,and referring to rotating beacon 120, each time rotating reflector 125with magnetic strip 127 rotates past magnetic sensor 128, magneticsensor 128 senses the magnetic field through “Hall Effect”.

Rotating beacon system 110 also includes feedback based control system160. Feedback based control system 160 includes beacon control circuit165 and angular position sensing devices 129 and 139. Beacon controlcircuit 165 includes power supply 161 connected to a power source, (notshown), via conductor 164. Power supply 161 provides regulated currentfor mode select circuit 166, controller 162 and digitally controlledcurrent generator 170 including square wave signal generator 171 andpulse width modulated current generator 172 and switching circuit 173.Power supply 161 also provides regulated current for operation of motors123 and 133 as well as light emitting elements 126 and 136. Mode selectcircuit 166 includes power switch 167 that may switch power to therotating beacons 120 and 130. Mode select circuit 166 also includes modeselect switch 168 used to select one of a variety of operation modes.Memory 169 provides data storage for programming and data associatedwith the operation of rotating beacon system 110.

Angular position sensing device 129 includes magnetic strip 127 andmagnetic sensor 128. Magnetic strip 127 is attached to a surface ofrotating reflector 125 and serves as an angular position indicator. Amagnetic field associated with magnetic strip 127 is sensed by magneticsensor 128 as it passes with each rotation of rotating reflector 125.Magnetic sensor 128 generates an angular position signal indicating anangular position of magnetic strip 127 and rotating reflector 125.Similarly, angular position sensing device 139 includes magnetic strip137 and magnetic sensor 138. Magnetic strip 137 is attached to a surfaceof rotating reflector 135 and serves as an angular position indicator. Amagnetic field associated with magnetic strip 137 is sensed by magneticsensor 138 as it passes with each rotation of rotating reflector 135.Magnetic sensor 138 generates an angular position signal indicating anangular position of magnetic strip 137 and rotating reflector 135.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of rotating beacon system210 is shown including a pair of rotating beacons 220 and 230 which aremounted independent of one another. Rotating reflector 225 is enclosedwithin lens cover 222. Similarly, rotating reflector 235 is enclosedwithin lens cover 232. As shown in FIG. 4, rotating beacon 220 includesbase 221 and motor 223. Rotating reflector 225 is connected to motor 223at shaft 224. Light emitting element 226 provides illumination reflectedby rotating reflector 225. Similarly, rotating beacon 230 includes base231 and motor 233. Rotating reflector 235 is connected to motor 233 atshaft 234. Light emitting element 236 provides illumination reflected byrotating reflector 235.

Rotating beacon system 210 also includes feedback based control system260. Feedback based control system 260 includes beacon control circuit265 and angular position sensing devices 229 and 239. Beacon controlcircuit 265 includes power supply 261 connected to a power source, (notshown), via conductor 264. Power supply 261 provides regulated currentfor mode select circuit 266, controller 262 and digitally controlledcurrent generator 270 including square wave signal generator 271 andpulse width modulated current generator 272 and switching circuit 273.Power supply 261 also provides regulated current for operation of motors223 and 233 as well as light emitting elements 226 and 236. Mode selectcircuit 266 includes power switch 267 that may switch power to therotating beacons 220 and 230. Mode select circuit 266 also includes modeselect switch 268 used to select one of a variety of operation modes.Memory 269 provides data storage for programming and data associatedwith the operation of rotating beacon system 210. A synch out line 269provides a capability wherein additional rotating beacon systems, LED's,flashers, sirens or the like, (not shown), may be linked andsynchronized with each other.

Angular position sensing device 229 includes magnetic strip 227 andmagnetic sensor 228. Magnetic strip 227 is attached to a surface ofrotating reflector 225 and serves as an angular position indicator. Amagnetic field associated with magnetic strip 227 is sensed by magneticsensor 228 as it passes with each rotation of rotating reflector 225.Magnetic sensor 228 generates an angular position signal indicating anangular position of magnetic strip 227 and rotating reflector 225.Similarly, angular position sensing device 239 includes magnetic strip237 and magnetic sensor 238. Magnetic strip 237 is attached to a surfaceof rotating reflector 235 and serves as an angular position indicator. Amagnetic field associated with magnetic strip 237 is sensed by magneticsensor 238 as it passes with each rotation of rotating reflector 235.Magnetic sensor 238 generates an angular position signal indicating anangular position of magnetic strip 237 and rotating reflector 235.

In operation and referring to FIG. 3 to illustrate the concepts ofoperation of rotating beacon system 110, an angular position signal isoutput by each magnetic sensor 128 and 138, representing the passing ofa magnetic field associated with magnetic strip 127 and magnetic strip137 respectively, indicating an angular position of rotating reflectors125 and 135, is input to controller 162. Magnetic sensor 128 inputs anangular position signal representative of an angular position ofrotating beacon 120 to controller 162. Similarly, magnetic sensor 138inputs an angular position signal representative of an angular positionof rotating beacon 130 to controller 162. Controller 162 calculates anangular speed and a phase relation of rotating beacon 120 and rotatingbeacon 130. Controller 162 also provides a synchronizing signal. Thesynchronizing signal is a constant regardless of an operation modeselected at mode select circuit 166. Square wave signal generator 171generates a square wave signal. The square wave signal is modulated bypulse width modulated current generator 173 as a function of thesynchronizing signal and the angular position signal for either rotatingbeacon 120 or rotating beacon 130. A first pulse width modulated currentis conducted from switching circuit 173 to motor 123 and a second pulsewidth modulated current is conducted from switching circuit 173 to motor133 to control the angular speed of rotating reflectors 125 and 135respectively, regulating a pre-selected phase relationship betweenrotating reflectors 125 and 135.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the steps of a METHOD FORCONTROLLING A PRE-SELECTED PHASE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO OR MOREROTATING BEACONS 500. The method 500 includes the steps of: SENSING ANANGULAR POSITION OF EACH OF THE TWO OR MORE ROTATING BEACONS 501,INPUTTING TWO OR MORE ANGULAR POSITION SIGNALS TO A BEACON CONTROLCIRCUIT, EACH OF THE TWO OR MORE ANGULAR POSITION SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVEOF AN ANGULAR POSITION OF ONE OF THE TWO OR MORE ROTATING BEACONS 502,GENERATING A SYNCHRONIZING SIGNAL 503, CALCULATING TWO OR MORE PHASEDIFFERENTIAL FACTORS, EACH PHASE DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR A FUNCTION OF THESYNCHRONIZING SIGNAL AND THE TWO OR MORE ANGULAR POSITION SIGNALS 504,GENERATING TWO OR MORE DIGITALLY CONTROLLED CURRENTS, EACH OF THE TWO ORMORE DIGITALLY CONTROLLED CURRENTS A FUNCTION OF THE TWO OR MORE PHASEDIFFERENTIAL FACTORS 505, and CONTROLLING AN ANGULAR SPEED OF EACH OFTHE TWO OR MORE ROTATING BEACONS WITH ONE OF THE TWO OR MORE DIGITALLYCONTROLLED CURRENTS TO REGULATE A PRE-SELECTED PHASE RELATIONSHIPBETWEEN EACH OF THE TWO OR MORE ROTATING BEACONS 506.

While this invention has been described with reference to the detailedembodiments, this is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense.Various modifications to the described embodiments, as well asadditional embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to personsskilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is thereforecontemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modificationsor embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A rotating beacon system comprising: two or more rotating beacons;and a feedback based control system including two or more angularposition sensing devices, one of the two or more angular positionsensing devices associated with one of the two or more rotating beaconsand a digitally controlled current generator responsive to an input ofthe two or more angular position sensing devices to produce two or moredigitally controlled currents, each of the two or more digitallycontrolled currents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the twoor more digitally controlled currents driving and controlling theangular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons.
 2. Therotating beacon system of claim 1 wherein the two or more angularposition sensing devices further comprise: two or more magnetic stripseach of the two or more magnetic strips attached to one of the two ormore rotating beacons; and two or more magnetic field sensors, one ofthe two or more magnetic field sensors positioned with respect to eachof the two or more rotating beacons, each of the two or more magneticfield sensors adapted to sense a varying magneto resistance value of thetwo or more magnetic angular position indicators as the two or moremagnetic angular position indicators rotate past each of the two or moremagnetic field sensors.
 3. The rotating beacon system of claim 1 whereinthe digitally controlled current generator further comprises: acontroller adapted to output a synchronizing signal; a square wavesignal generator connected to the controller; and a pulse widthmodulated current generator connected to the square wave signalgenerator and the two or more rotating beacons, the pulse widthmodulated current generator adapted to modulate a duty cycle of thesquare wave signal producing two or more pulse width modulated currents,each of the two or more pulse width modulated currents conducted to anassociated rotating beacon, the two or more pulse width modulatedcurrents driving and controlling the angular speed of each of the two ormore rotating beacons.
 4. A rotating beacon system comprising: two ormore rotating beacons; two or more angular position sensing devices,each of the two or more angular position sensing devices connected toone of the two or more rotating beacons, each of the two or more angularposition sensing devices adapted to sense an angular position of one ofthe two or more rotating beacons and output an angular position signalfor the one of the two or more rotating beacons; a beacon controlcircuit including a controller, a square wave signal generator and apulse width modulated current generator, the beacon control circuitconnected to the two or more angular position sensing devices, thebeacon control circuit adapted to output a synchronizing signal, thesquare wave signal generator configured to output a square wave signaland the pulse width modulated current generator adapted to modulate aduty cycle of the square wave signal producing two or more pulse widthmodulated currents, each of the two or more pulse width modulatedcurrents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the two or morepulse width modulated currents driving and controlling the angular speedof each of the two or more rotating beacons.
 5. The rotating beaconsystem of claim 4 wherein each of the two or more rotating beaconsfurther comprises an incandescent light emitting element.
 6. Therotating beacon system of claim 4 wherein each of the two or morerotating beacons further comprises a light emitting diode.
 7. Therotating beacon system of claim 4 wherein each of the two or morerotating beacons further comprises an electric motor.
 8. The rotatingbeacon system of claim 4 wherein each of the two or more pulse widthmodulated currents further comprise the square wave signal modulated asa function of the synchronizing signal and the angular position signalfor one of the two or more rotating beacons.
 9. The rotating beaconsystem of claim 4 wherein each of the two or more pulse width modulatedcurrents further comprise the square wave signal modulated as a functionof a phase differential factor for one of the two or more rotatingbeacons to regulate the angular speed of an associated one of the two ormore rotating beacons.
 10. The rotating beacon system of claim 4 whereineach of the two or more pulse width modulated currents further comprisethe square wave signal modulated as a function of a phase differentialfactor for one of the two or more rotating beacons to regulate theangular speed of the one of the two or more rotating beacons to maintaina pre-selected phase relationship between the two or more rotatingbeacons.
 11. The rotating beacon system of claim 4 further comprising:two or more magnetic angular position indicators, one of the two or moremagnetic angular position indicators positioned on each of the two ormore rotating beacons; and two or more magnetic field sensors, one ofthe two or more magnetic field sensors positioned with respect to eachof the two or more rotating beacons, each of the two or more magneticfield sensors adapted to sense a varying magneto resistance value of thetwo or more magnetic angular position indicators as the two or moremagnetic angular position indicators rotate past each of the two or moremagnetic field sensors.
 12. The rotating beacon system of claim 4further comprising: two or more visual angular position indicators, oneof the two or more visual angular position indicators positioned on eachof the two or more rotating beacons; and two or more optical sensingdevices, one of the two or more optical sensing devices positioned withrespect to each of the two or more rotating beacons, each of the two ormore optical sensing devices adapted to optically sense one of the twoor more visual angular position indicators as the two or more visualangular position indicators rotate past each of the two or more opticalsensing devices.
 13. A rotating beacon system comprising: a firstrotating beacon; a first angular position sensing device adapted tosense an angular position of the first rotating beacon and output afirst angular position signal representative of an angular position ofthe first rotating beacon; a second rotating beacon conductivelyconnected to the first rotating beacon; a second angular positionsensing device adapted to sense an angular position of the secondrotating beacon and output a second angular position signalrepresentative of an angular position of the second rotating beacon; abeacon control circuit including a controller, a square wave signalgenerator and a pulse width modulated current generator, the beaconcontrol circuit connected to the two or more angular position sensingdevices, the beacon control circuit adapted to output a synchronizingsignal, the square wave signal generator configured to output a squarewave signal and the pulse width modulated current generator adapted tomodulate a duty cycle of the square wave signal producing two or morepulse width modulated currents, each of the two or more pulse widthmodulated currents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the twoor more pulse width modulated currents driving and controlling theangular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons.
 14. Therotating beacon system of claim 13 further comprising: the firstrotating beacon including a first incandescent light emitting element;and the second rotating beacon including a second incandescent lightemitting element.
 15. The rotating beacon system of claim 13 furthercomprising: the first rotating beacon including a first light emittingdiode; and the second rotating beacon including a second light emittingdiode.
 16. The rotating beacon system of claim 13 further comprising:the first rotating beacon including a first electric motor; and thesecond rotating beacon including a second electric motor.
 17. Therotating beacon system of claim 13 further comprising: the first pulsewidth modulated current including the square wave signal modulated as afunction of the synchronizing signal and the first angular positionsignal; and the second pulse width modulated current including thesquare wave signal modulated as a function of the synchronizing signaland the second angular position signal.
 18. The rotating beacon systemof claim 13 further comprising: the first pulse width modulated currentincluding the square wave signal modulated to regulate the angular speedof the first rotating beacon; and the second pulse width modulatedcurrent including the square wave signal modulated to regulate theangular speed of the second rotating beacon.
 19. The rotating beaconsystem of claim 13 further comprising: the first pulse width modulatedcurrent including the square wave signal modulated to regulate theangular speed of the first rotating beacon; and the second pulse widthmodulated current including the square wave signal modulated to regulatethe angular speed of the second rotating beacon to maintain apre-selected phase relationship between the first rotating beacon andthe second rotating beacon.
 20. The rotating beacon system of claim 13further comprising: the first angular position sensing device includinga first magnetic angular position indicator positioned on the firstrotating beacon and a first magnetic field sensor adapted to sense amagneto resistance value of the first magnetic position indicator as thefirst magnetic position indicator rotates past the first magnetic fieldsensor; and the second angular position sensing device including asecond magnetic angular position indicator positioned on the secondrotating beacon and a second magnetic field sensor adapted to sense amagneto resistance value of the second magnetic position indicator asthe second magnetic position indicator rotates past the second magneticfield sensor.
 21. The rotating beacon system of claim 13 furthercomprising: the first angular position sensing device including a firstvisual angular position indicator positioned on the first rotatingbeacon and a first optical sensing device adapted to sense the firstvisual angular position indicator as the first visual angular positionindicator rotates past the first optical sensing device; and the secondangular position sensing device including a second visual angularposition indicator positioned on the second rotating beacon and a secondoptical sensing device adapted to sense the second visual angularposition indicator as the second visual angular position indicatorrotates past the second optical sensing device.
 22. A method forcontrolling a pre-selected phase relationship between two or morerotating beacons, the method including the steps of: sensing an angularposition of each of the two or more rotating beacons; inputting two ormore angular position signals to a beacon control circuit, each of thetwo or more angular position signals representative of an angularposition of one of the two or more rotating beacons; generating asynchronizing signal; calculating two or more phase differentialfactors, each phase differential factor a function of the synchronizingsignal and the two or more angular position signals; generating two ormore digitally controlled currents, each of the two or more digitallycontrolled currents a function of the two or more phase differentialfactors; and controlling an angular speed of each of the two or morerotating beacons with one of the two or more digitally controlledcurrents.